Non-volatile memory device

ABSTRACT

A non-volatile memory device comprises a gate line that includes a gate dielectric layer, a bottom gate pattern, an inter-gate dielectric and a top gate pattern, which are sequentially stacked. The width of the inter-gate dielectric is narrower than that of the bottom gate pattern.

This U.S. non-provisional application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2003-0014853 filed on Mar. 10, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof, and more particularly, to a non-volatile memory device and a fabricating method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A non-volatile memory device such as an electrically-erasable-programmable read-only-memory (EEPROM) is a read only memory (ROM) that can be erased and reprogrammed through the application of electrical voltage. Typical examples of the EEPROM are a flash memory device and a floating gate tunnel oxide (FLOTOX) memory device. FLOTOX memory device employ memory cells comprising two transistors, that is, a memory transistor and a selection transistor. A cell array of the flash memory device may be classified into a NAND-type cell array and NOR-type cell array. In the NAND-type cell array, cell strings are arranged in parallel in a cell array region. The cell strings comprise a plurality of memory cells, which are connected in series. The cell strings of the NAND-type cell array include the selection transistor on both ends thereof. While the selection transistor of the FLOTOX memory cell selects the memory cell, the selection transistor of the NAND-type flash memory cell selects the string cells.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the conventional NAND-type flash memory device, a device isolation layer 2 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 10. The device isolation layer 2 defines a plurality of active regions 4 in the substrate 10. A string selection line (SSL), a ground selection line (GSL) and a plurality of word lines (WL) intersecting the active regions 4 are arranged. The string selection line (SSL), the ground selection line (GSL) and a plurality of word lines (WL) constitute a memory cell unit (i.e., Block). The NAND-type cell array comprises a plurality of the memory cell units. Adjoining memory cell units are arranged symmetrically. Common source line (CSL) is arranged between the ground selection lines (GSL). The common source line (CSL) is electrically connected to the active regions 4. A bit line plug 44 is arranged on each active region 4 between the string selection lines (SSL).

The word lines (WL) comprise a control gate electrode 49 and a floating gate 32. The control gate electrode 49 extends across the active regions 4, and the floating gate 32 interposed between the control gate electrode 49 and each active region 4. The ground selection line (GSL) and the string selection line (SSL) comprise a bottom gate pattern 24 and a top gate pattern 30, which are sequentially stacked. The word line (WL) includes an inter-gate dielectric. The inter-gate dielectric electrically insulates the control gate electrode 49 and the floating gate 32. To the contrary, the top gate pattern 30 and the bottom gate pattern 24 are electrically connected. The method for electrically connecting the top gate pattern 30 and the bottom gate pattern 24 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,780,431 and 6,221,717, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 2, the device isolation layer 4 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 to define the active regions 2. A gate insulation layer and a first conductive layer are formed on the semiconductor substrate 10. The first conductive layer is patterned to form a first conductive pattern 14. The inter-gate dielectric 16 and a mask layer 18 are sequentially formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 including the first conductive pattern 14. The mask layer 18 and the inter-gate dielectric 16 are sequentially patterned to form an opening 20 exposing the first conductive pattern 14. Although not shown, the opening 20 crosses over the active regions 2. The opening 20 is positioned in the center of region (S) where a selection line (SL) is to be formed (FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 3, a second conductive layer is formed on the mask conductive layer 18 including the opening 20. The second conductive layer, the mask conductive layer 18, the inter-gate dielectric 16 and the first conductive pattern 14 are sequentially patterned to form the word line (WL) and the selection line (SL). The word line (WL) comprises the floating gate 34, a first inter-gate dielectric 36, a first mask conductive layer 38 and the control gate electrode 40. The selection line (SL) comprises the bottom gate pattern 24, a second inter-gate dielectric 26, a second mask conductive layer 28 and a top gate pattern 30. While the floating gate 34 and the control gate electrode 40 are electrically insulated, the bottom gate pattern 24 and the top gate pattern 30 are electrically connected to each other through the opening 20. The width of the opening 20 may be half of the width of the selection line (L). In this case, a permitted misalignment of the opening 20 and the selection line (SL) is L/4.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the opening 20 or the selection line (SL) misaligns, a portion 46 of the opening 20 is placed outside of a selection line region (S).

Referring to FIG. 5, the second conductive layer is formed. Then, the second conductive layer and the mask conductive layer are patterned using the inter-gate dielectric as an etch stop layer to form the control gate electrode 40, the top gate pattern 30, and the first and second mask conductive layers 38 and 28. In this case, the first conductive pattern 14 is removed to expose the gate insulation layer 12 in the opening region 46 placed outside of the selection line region (S).

Referring to FIG. 6, the inter-gate dielectric 16 and the first conductive pattern 14 are patterned to form the floating gate 34, the bottom gate pattern 24, and the first and second inter-gate dielectrics 36 and 26. In this case, the substrate of the opening region 20 can be damaged by etching. Worse yet, a notch 48 can be formed adjacent the selection line (SL).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device comprises a memory gate pattern and a selection gate pattern separated from each other and arranged on a semiconductor substrate. The memory gate pattern comprises a tunnel dielectric layer, a floating gate, a first inter-gate dielectric and a control gate electrode, which are sequentially stacked. The selection gate pattern comprises a gate dielectric layer, a bottom gate pattern, a second inter-gate dielectric and a top gate pattern. The width of the second inter-gate dielectric is narrower than the width of the bottom gate pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a cell array of a conventional NAND flash memory;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for fabricating a conventional EEPROM taken along line I—I of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 through 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating problems of the conventional EEPROM;

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a portion of the EEPROM cell array of the NAND flash memory for illustrating the EEPROM according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the EEPROM cell array of the NAND flash memory taken along line II—II of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view showing a peripheral circuit transistor for illustrating the EEPOM according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7D is a cross-sectional view of the peripheral circuit transistor taken along line II—II of FIG. 7C;

FIGS. 8A through 12A are cross-sectional views showing a portion of the cell array for illustrating the method for fabricating the EEPROM according to a preferred embodiment of the present;

FIGS. 8B through 12B are cross-sectional views taken along IV—IV of FIGS. 8A through 12A, respectively;

FIGS. 8C through 12C are cross-sectional views of the peripheral circuit transistor for illustrating the method for fabricating EEPROM according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 8D through 12D are cross-sectional view taken along line V—V of FIGS. 8C through 12C, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated herein after, and the embodiments herein are rather introduced to provide easy and complete understanding of the scope and spirit of the present invention. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. It will also be understood that when a layer is referred to being “on” another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate or intervening layers may be also be present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the cell array of a non-volatile memory device such as EEPROM includes a device isolation layer 52 defining a plurality of first active regions 54 in a semiconductor substrate 50. A ground selection line (GSL) and a string selection line (SSL) extend across the first active regions 54. A plurality of parallel word lines (WL) are disposed between the ground selection line (GSL) and the string selection line (SSL) to extend across the first active regions 54. A memory cell unit comprises the ground selection line (GSL), the string selection line (SSL) and the word lines (WL) disposed there between. The cell array includes a plurality of memory cell units. Neighboring memory cell units are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other. A common source line (CSL) is arranged between neighboring ground selection lines (GSL). A bit line plug 78 is connected to the first active region 54 between adjacent string selection lines (SSL). The common source line (CSL) is arranged in parallel to the word line (WL) and the selection line (SSL). As a result, the common source line (CSL) crosses over the first active regions 54. The first active regions 54 are electrically connected in parallel to the common source line (CSL).

The word line (WL) comprises a control gate electrode 68 a and floating gates 60 f. The control gate electrode 68 a crosses over the first active regions 54, and the floating gates 60 f are disposed between the first active region 54 and the control gate electrode 68 a. A first inter-gate dielectric 62 a is disposed between the floating gates 60 f and the control gate electrode 68 a, thereby electrically isolating the floating gate 60 f and the control gate electrode 68 from each other. The first inter-gate dielectric 62 a aligns with the control gate electrode 68 a to extend across the first active regions 54.

The ground selection line (GSL) and the string selection line (SSL) each comprise a top gate pattern 68 b and a bottom gate pattern 60 b. The top and bottom gate patterns 68 b and 60 b extend across the first active regions 54. A second inter-gate dielectric 62 b is disposed between the top and bottom gate patterns 68 b and 60 b. The second inter-gate dielectric 62 b extends from one sidewall of each selection line toward the approximately center thereof. Since the width of the second inter-gate dielectric 62 b is narrower than that of each selection line, the top and bottom gate patterns 68 b and 60 b can be electrically connected to each other.

A hard mask pattern 70 a and a second hard mask pattern 70 b may be further formed on the control gate electrode 68 a and the top gate pattern 68 b, respectively. In addition, a first mask conductive layer 64 a and a second mask conductive layer 64 b may be additionally formed on the first inter-gate dielectric 62 a and the second inter-gate dielectric 62 b, respectively.

An interlayer insulating layer 74 overlies the word lines (WL), the ground selection line (GSL) and the string selection line (SSL) formed on the semiconductor substrate 10. The common source line (CSL) and the bit line plug 78 may be formed in the interlayer insulating layer 74.

A tunnel dielectric layer such as a tunnel oxide layer 58 a is disposed between the floating gate 60 f and the first active region 54. A gate dielectric layer such as a gate oxide layer 58 b is disposed between the bottom gate pattern 60 b and the first active region 54.

Referring to FIG. 7C and FIG. 7D, the device isolation layer 52 is formed in the peripheral circuit region of EEPROM to define a second active region 56. A peripheral gate electrode 80 c extends across the active region 56. The peripheral gate electrode 80 c (FIG. 7D) comprises a bottom conductive pattern 60 c and a top conductive pattern 68 c, which are sequentially stacked. A hard mask pattern 70 c may be additionally formed on the top conductive pattern 68 c. The bottom conductive pattern 60 c may be formed of the same material as that of the floating gate 60 f and the bottom gate pattern 60 b. The top conductive pattern 68 c may be formed of the same material as that of the control gate electrode 68 a and the top gate pattern 68 b. Furthermore, the hard mask pattern 70 c may be formed of the same material as that of the first and second hard mask patterns 70 a and 70 b. A gate insulation layer 58 is disposed between the bottom conductive pattern 60 c and the second active region 56. Also, the interlayer insulating layer 74 is formed in the peripheral circuit region. A plug 84 is formed on both sides of the peripheral circuit gate electrode 82. The plug 84 is connected to the second active region 56 in the interlayer insulating layer 74. Also, the gate plug 82 is connected to the peripheral circuit gate electrode 80 c.

Referring to FIGS. 8A–8D, the device isolation layer 52 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 50 to define a plurality of the first active regions 54 in the cell array region. The second active region 56 is defined in the peripheral circuit region. The gate insulation layer 58 is formed on the first and second active regions 54 and 56. A first conductive layer 60 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 including the first and second active regions 54 and 56. The first conductive layer 60 is patterned to form a first conductive pattern 60 a over the first active regions 54. The first conductive pattern 60 a has two parts, i.e., one part being parallel to the first active regions 54, and the other part intersecting the first active regions 54. The intersecting part of the conductive pattern 60 a covers a portion of the substrate 50 including the selection line region (SL), in which the string selection line (SSL) and the ground selection line (GSL) are formed. The first conductive layer 60 of the peripheral circuit region may be left without being patterned as described above.

An insulating layer 62 is preferably conformally formed on the semiconductor substrate 50 including the first conductive pattern 60 a. The mask conductive layer 64 can be further formed on the insulating layer 62. The insulating layer 62 may be formed of a material having a high dielectric constant, such as an oxide-nitride-oxide layer (ONO) or a metal oxide layer. Preferably, the dielectric constant of the insulating layer 62 is higher than that of a silicon oxide layer. It is preferable that the mask conductive layer is formed to a thickness of between about 100 and about 200 Angstroms using, for example, a polysilicon layer. The mask conductive layer 64 protects the insulating layer 62.

Referring to FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D, the mask conductive layer 64 and the insulating layer 62 are patterned to form an opening 66 extending therethough. The opening 66 expose a portion of the first conductive pattern 60 a and crosses over the first active regions 54. The opening 66 is formed to overlap a couple of the selection line region (SL) adjacent to each other. In other words, it is preferable that boundaries of both sides of the opening 66 are placed at the center of the selection line region. In this case, the mask conductive layer 64 of the peripheral circuit region and the insulating layer 62 are removed to expose the first conductive layer 60.

Referring to FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D, a second conductive layer 68 is formed on the patterned insulating layer 62 and on the exposed portion of the first conductive pattern 60 a through the opening 66. The second conductive layer 68 may comprise polysilicon. Also, a metal silicide layer having low resistance can be further formed on the polysilicon layer. Furthermore, a hard mask layer 70 can be additionally formed on the second conductive layer 68.

Referring to FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D, a photoresist pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate 50. The photoresist pattern defines the peripheral gate electrode, the word line and the selection line. The hard mask layer 70, the second conductive layer 68, the mask conductive layer 64, the first conductive pattern 60 a of the cell region and the first conductive layer 60 of the peripheral circuit region are sequentially patterned, using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask. As a result, the top gate patterns 68 b and a plurality of parallel control gate electrodes 68 a, which extend across the first active regions 54, are formed. In this case, the insulating layer 62 is used as an etch stopping layer. Accordingly, the first conductive pattern 60 a in the opening 66 is etched in alignment with sidewalls of the top gate pattern 68 b. As a result, a first mask pattern 64 a is formed under the control gate electrode 68 a, and a second mask pattern 64 b is formed under the top gate pattern 68 b. The top gate pattern 68 b is partially in contact with the first conductive pattern 60 a.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first active region 54 and the second active region 56 are protected by the gate insulation layer 58 during etching of the first conductive layer 60 and the first conductive pattern 60 a. The first hard mask pattern 70 a and the second hard mask pattern 70 b are formed on the control gate electrode 68 a and the top gate pattern 68 b, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D, the photoresist pattern 72 is formed. The photoresist pattern 72 covers the peripheral circuit region and a gap region between the top gate patterns 68 c. Also, the photoresist pattern 72 covers a portion of the top gate pattern 68 c. The insulating layer 62 and the first conductive pattern 60 a are patterned, using the photoresist pattern 72 as an etching mask, to form a first inter-gate dielectric 62 a and the floating gate 60 f, and the second inter-gate dielectric 62 b and the bottom gate pattern 60 b. The first inter-gate dielectric 62 a and the floating gate 60 f align with the control gate electrode 68 a. The second inter-gate dielectric 62 b and the bottom gate pattern 60 b align with the top gate pattern 68 b. The word line of a NAND-type cell array may include the floating pattern 60 f, the first inter-gate dielectric 62 a and the control gate electrode 68 a. In addition, the ground selection line (GSL) and the string selection line (SSL) include the bottom gate pattern 60 b, the second inter-gate dielectric 62 b and the top gate pattern 68 b.

The floating gate patterns are separated from each other on the first active region 54. The first gate inter-gate dielectric 62 a aligns with the control gate electrode 68 a to extend across the first active regions 54. The floating gate pattern 60 f extends on the device isolation layer 52. The bottom gate pattern 60 b aligns with the top gate pattern 68 b to extend across the first active regions 54. The second inter-gate dielectric 62 b crosses over the first active regions 54. However, the width of the second inter-gate dielectric 62 b is narrower than that of the top gate pattern 68 b. In other words, if sidewalls of the opening 66 are disposed at the center of the selection line, the width of the second inter-gate dielectric is about half of the width of the top gate pattern 68 b. The second inter-gate dielectric 62 b has a sidewall that is aligned with a sidewall of the top gate pattern 68 b and extended in a lateral direction toward the approximately center of the top gate pattern 68 b.

As mentioned in the previous embodiment, the present invention can be applicable to a NAND-type flash memory device. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applicable to a FLOTOX EEPROM such as one having memory transistors and selection transistors. This may be summarized as follows: the word line of the present invention may be equivalent to the gate electrode of memory transistors of the FLOTOX EEPROM. The selection line of the present invention may be equivalent to the gate line of selection transistors of FLOTOX EEPROM.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, with partially removed inter-gate dielectric included in a selection line, a bottom gate pattern and a top gate pattern can be electrically connected. The inter-gate dielectric at a predetermined region may be removed. Both boundaries of the predetermined region are overlapped with two selection lines neighboring it, respectively. As a result, the width of inter-gate dielectric is narrower than that of the selection line, and one sidewall of the inter-gate dielectric aligns with one sidewall of the selection line (SL).

According to the prior art, when the contact width of the top gate pattern and the bottom gate pattern is half of the selection line (SL), as shown in FIG. 3, a permitted misalignment may be L/4. However, as shown in FIG. 12B according to an embodiment of the present invention, the permitted misalignment may be L/2. Therefore, the permitted alignment can be increased when the top gate pattern and the bottom gate pattern have the same contact dimension. For example, if error is L/4 in fabricating process, according to the present invention, the contact dimension of the top gate pattern and the bottom gate pattern can be increased, thereby improving signal transmission speed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A non-volatile memory device comprising: a memory gate pattern and a selection gate pattern separated from each other and arranged on a semiconductor substrate, the memory gate pattern comprising; a tunnel dielectric layer, a floating gate, a first inter-gate dielectric, and a control gate electrode, which are sequentially stacked; and the selection gate pattern comprising; a gate dielectric layer, a bottom gate pattern, a second inter-gate dielectric, and a top gate pattern, which are sequentially stacked, wherein a width of the second inter-gate dielectric is narrower than that of the bottom gate pattern and wherein the second inter-gate dielectric extends from one sidewall of the selection gate pattern to approximately center thereof.
 2. The non-volatile memory device of claim 1, wherein the control gate electrode and the top gate pattern further include a mask conductive layer, and wherein the mask conductive layer is formed on the first and second inter-gate dielectrics.
 3. The non-volatile memory device of claim 1, wherein the top gate pattern is electrically connected to the bottom gate pattern.
 4. A non-volatile memory device comprising: a device isolation layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate to define a plurality of active regions; selection lines extending across the active regions, the selection lines each including a bottom gate pattern, a second inter-gate dielectric and a top gate pattern, which are sequentially stacked; and a plurality of word lines disposed between the selection lines to extend across the active regions and including a floating gate pattern, a first inter-gate dielectric and a control gate electrode, which are sequentially stacked, wherein a width of the second inter-gate dielectric is narrower than that of each selection line, and wherein the second inter-gate dielectric extends from one sidewall of the selection line to approximately center of the selection line.
 5. The non-volatile memory device of claim 4, wherein the floating gate pattern is interposed between each of the active regions and the word line, and wherein the bottom gate pattern is disposed under the top gate pattern to extend across the active regions.
 6. The non-volatile memory device of claim 4, wherein the second inter-gate dielectric crosses over the active regions.
 7. The non-volatile memory device of claim 4, further comprising: a mask conductive layer disposed between the second inter-gate dielectric and the top gate pattern; and between the first inter-gate dielectric and the control gate electrode.
 8. The non-volatile memory device of claim 4, wherein the first and second inter-gate dielectrics include at least a single dielectric layer having a dielectric constant higher than that of a silicon oxide layer.
 9. The non-volatile memory device of claim 4, further comprising: a second active region defined by the device isolation layer; and a peripheral gate pattern crossing over the second active region, wherein the peripheral gate pattern includes a bottom conductive pattern and a top conductive pattern sequentially stacked to be electrically connected to each other.
 10. A non-volatile memory device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a gate line having two sidewalls formed on the substrate, the gate line including: a gate dielectric layer, a bottom gate pattern, an inter-gate dielectric and a top gate pattern, which are sequentially stacked on the substrate, wherein a width of the inter-gate dielectric is narrower than that of the bottom gate pattern, and wherein the inter-gate dielectric extends from only one sidewall of the gate line towards the other sidewall. 